When Nick Wiser was a high school student at Harding Academy in Memphis, all it took was a few debate classes for him to know what he wanted to be when he grew up - an attorney. Arguing and presenting with a purpose. Representing a person or a cause with passion. That’s what Nick has done since 1987 with his good friend and legal partner of 31 years, Robert Alan Byrd. With the efforts of Nick’s loved co-workers at the firm, Byrd & Wiser achieved a stellar reputation on the Gulf Coast.
But Nicholas Van Wiser was an attorney and much more when his life here concluded all too soon on March 21st, 2018. He was a husband, son, big brother, uncle, friend, community member, and on and on. Nick was born in Memphis on July 8th, 1953, the son of the late Dr. Winfred L. Wiser, and Dr. Nell F. Wiser who survives him. He was the adored big brother of Joan Wiser Van Hooser who passed away in 2015.
Nick spent his boyhood growing up in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Along with learning the art of debate, Nick showed his talent in academics, in choral performances and numerous plays. And there’s no doubt that some of those skills aided him in becoming so effective when he took the floor in a courtroom.
In 1975, Nick graduated from Vanderbilt University receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in philosophy. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College in 1982. After graduation, Nick served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Presiding Justice Vernon H. Broom of the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1982 to 1983.
The highlight of Nick’s law practice was, without question, when he met a court reporter by the name of Cay Tittle. They started their own ‘legal partnership’ when they married March 10th, 1989.
With Ocean Springs, Mississippi as their home, Nick and Cay over the years collected an eclectic ensemble of friends. If you were among that number, you were (and remain) dearly cherished. Nick and friends loved watching games of their beloved New Orleans Saints in Nick’s home-based “Big Boy Bar.” During the holidays, Nick brought to his Gulf Coast family his boyhood tradition of grinding bars of Ivory Soap into flakes, whipping that into foam, and flocking their Christmas tree. It was a party, an annual event, a celebration of the season and friendship. Many of these good times were shared by Nick’s and Cay’s canine family, Chivas and Payton.
Nick was a longtime member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference. He was honored to serve the Walter Anderson Museum of Art as both a board member and its president. In 2016, Nick proudly wore the crown as king of The Order of Billikins.
Along with his dear Cay, Nick Wiser is survived by a host of nieces and nephews: Jamie Nadeau (Allison) of Charleston, South Carolina; Brittany Van Hooser (Jonnie) of Nashville, Tennessee; Lauren Travis (Dee) of Nashville; Winfred Nadeau (Lindley) of Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Robert Hokamp (Celeste), Rachel Hokamp, and Sara Williams, all of Biloxi; Sister-in-law and brothers-in law: Jessie and Robin Williams of Biloxi; David Van Hooser of Nashville.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, or a charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, March 27, 2018 at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 10:00 with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m.